Nipple or lubricant-receiving device



Mardi 27, 1951 c. c. s. LE CLAIR 2,545,672

NIPPLE OR LUBRICANT-RECEIVINQ DEVICE Filed July l0, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 27, 1951 c. c. s. LE CLAIR 2,545,672

NIPPLE oR LUBRICANT-RECEIVING DEVICE Eiled'July 1o, 1948 5 sheets-sheet 2 d 5o hg?.

C. C. S. LE CLAIR NIPPLE OR LUBRICANT-RECEIVING DEVICE March 27, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July l0, 1948 March 27, 1951 c. c. s. LE CLAIR 2,545,672

' NIPPLE 0R LUBRICANT-RECEIVING DEVICE Filed July lO, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ily/541. izg. [zg

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Mog'vugs March 27, 1951 c. c. s. LE CLAIR NIPPLE OR LUBRICANT-RECEIVING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July l0, 1948 Patentecl Mar. 27, 1951 en sie Canaille @lare Sprankling Le Clair, Acton, London, England, assigner to Tecalemit Limited, Brentford, England, a corporation of Great Britain Application July 1c, 194s, serial No. 37,994 In Great Britain July 25, 1947 Cl. 18d-405) l 1.' Claims.

rFhis invention relates in general to nipples or lubricant-receiving devices (hereinafter called nipples) for use in lubrication systemswith grease guns, or equivalent, nozzles and which are so constructed that dirt cannot collect in their lubricant-receiving passages.

The object of the invention is to provide resilient closure members or teats which are provided with normally-closed lubricant passages of small of no measurable diameter or width and which are so constructed that by thrust applied to them by the nozzles of grease guns the inlet ends of the said passages may be pulled open initially, so as to permit of the entry of lubricant injector devices which ferm parts of the nozzles of grease guns and through which lubricant `may be injected under pressure into the said passages and thence to the places of use of the lubricant.

Resilient closure members or teats according to this invention thus have the advantage that their outer surfaces, which inevitably are dirtladen, are pulled away from the mouths of ,the saidlubricant passages so that the said injector devices enter clean surfaces and do not (asin known types of nipples), push dirt into those passages.

According to this invention, there is providedv a resilient lubricant-impervious closure member or 'teat which is adapted to act either as a closure for the inlet end oi a lubricant supply passage formed in a rigid nipple or which itself forms a complete nipple which is adapted to act as a closure for the inlet end of a lubricant supply passage formed in or leading to a bearing or other place of use, the said closure member or teat including a body part comprising a shank which is adapted'to be fixed inthe said lubricant supply passage, a nozzle-engaging head, and a lubricant passage which, or the inlet end of which, is in the form of a hole of no measurable diameter or one or more slits of no measurable Width such that there is no exposed aperture in which dirtcan collect, the said head being so formed that pressure applied by the nozzle `oi `a grease gun to its outer surface at a position spaced laterally iromthe inlet end of the said lubricant passage through the closure member er teat causes the head to be distorted or deflected in such a manner that the inlet end of the said passage is opened or spread initially to allow the entry ,of an injector device, whereby lubricant under pressure fed into the injector device may be forced through the passage to a place of use.

According to a further feature of the inven- ^icn, there is provided a resilient, lubricantimpervious cle-sure member or teat which is adapted to act either as a closure for the inlet end of a lubricant supply passage formed in a rigid nipple having a body part including an external laterally-projecting flange part or which itself forms a complete nipple which is adapted to act as a closure for the inlet end of a lubricant supply passage formed in a bearing or other place of use, the said closure member or teat including a body part comprising a shank which is adapted to be zied in the said lubricant supply passage, a nozzle-engaging head, and a lubricant passage in the form of a hole of no measurable diameter or one or more slits cf no measurable width such that there is no exposed aperture in which dirt can collect, the said nozzle-engaging head being spaced at such a distance from the part of the said shank, which is fixed in the said lubricant supply passage in the nipple body part when the closure member or teat is in its working position in the said lubricant supply passage, that when the closure member or teat is in the said position the inner surface of the nozzle-engaging head is spaced outwardly away from the outer surface of the, said laterally-projecting flange or the outer surface of the said bearing or other place of use, the arrangement being such that pressure, applied by the nozzle of a grease gun to the outer surface of the said nozzle-engaging head around, and at a position spaced laterally from, the inlet end of the said lubricant passage in the closure member or teat, causes the head to be distorted or deflected in such a manner that the inlet end of the said lubricant passage is opened or spread initially to allow the entry of an injector device, whereby lubricant under pressure fed into the injector device may be forced through the lubricant passage.

As will appear hereinafter, the nipple may comprise a metal or other rigid body part and a flexible and resilient closure member or teat or the resilient closure member may itself constitute the nipple, in which latter case the member will act as a closure member for a lubricant supply passage formed in, or associated with, the part to be lubricated. In either case, the said closure member or teat may be made of rubber, synthetic rubber, or other mouldable, lubricant-impervious and resilient material.

The above mentioned shank may include anchoring means consisting of a iiange which is adapted to be ntted in a counterbored portion of the said lubricant supply passage, and a neck part, which is of less diameter than the flange and connects the said flange to the said nozzleattingere from the upper surface of the nipple body head l, the underside of the teat head t being spaced sonic distance above the said surface. The teat is provided with a central straight-through passage s" in the form of a hole of no measurable diameter which is normally closed, and below the inner face of its anchoring flange it may be provided with a downwardly projecting conical or rounded pmu The anchoring ange 'I of the teat is preferably f slightly larger size than the conical counterbor in order to ensure a tight fit, the resiliency of the material permitting it to be frc'e'd into position in the latter, the conical formation assisting this operation.

`As shown in FigureZ, in alsecond construction, thernipple body part may be constructed as described above. The teat also may comprise an anchoring flange 1A, a neck 8A and an outer head 6A as described above but in this caseV it includes a central recess Il which extends upwards from the bottom of the anchoring flange IA to a posiLion short of the top surface of the head. A small central hole 55A which is of no measurable diameter and is normally closed is provided'through the thin material lying between the top surface of the teat head and the near or adjacent end of the said recess Il in the teat.

In a' third construction, which is shown in Figure 3, the teat is constructed like that shown in Figure 1 but'th'ere is noshoulder at the bottom of the conical recess 5B. The nipplel body head EB has an upwardly-extending sleeve or collar I2 which fits around the teat neck SB and against the underside of the teat head 5B, thus forming a partialsupport for the latter against the thrust of the`V grease gun. The teat is provided with central straight-through hole SB of no measurable" diaiieter.

Referring to Figure in a fourth construction, the nippleV body part and the teat head C are constructedlike those in the construction shown in Figure 3, except that the teat has a central recess IIA and a. small hole @GC of no measurable diameter connecting the latter to the top surface ofthe head' SC as in the construction shown in Figure 2. The underside of the head @C iits against the end of the sleeve IZA.

, In a iifth' construction, which is shown in Figure', the nipple body part is constructed eX- trnally like that of the constructions shown in Figures 3V and 4 but under its nozzle-engaging head ISDA the teat has a plain cylindrical shank I34 which is press-iitted or bonded into a plain cylindrical straight-through bore Ill in the nipple body. The underside of the head 6D nts against theend of the sleeve I2D. The teat is provided with' a central straight-through hole 9D of no measurable diameter. y

Referring to Figure 6, in a sixth construction, the nipple body part and the teat are constructed likeithose shown in Figure 5, but the teat has Va central recess IIB and a small hole 9E connecting the latter to the top surface of the head 6E as inlthe constructions shown in Figures 2 and 4. The underside of the teat head 6E fits against the endof the sleeve IZE.

In both the seventh and eighth constructions, which are shown in Figures 7 yand 8, the nipple body part has a plain cylindrical straightthroughbore I5 and the teat has a nozzle-cngaging' head I6, a cylindrical body I'I and a reduced portion extending from its base upwards so as-'toprovide a shoulder I 8 and a spigotor shanku ISI'` of reduced'vdiaineterwhich is pressfitted or bonded in the top of the bore I5 oi the nipple body part. The shoulder I8 lits upon the top surface of the nipple iiange IF.

In the construction shown in Figure 7, the teat is provided with a straight-through hole 9G of no measurable diameter arranged centrally in the shank as in the constructions shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5. In the construction shown in Figure 8, however, the teat is formed with a central recess 2| and a small hole 9F of no measurable diameter as in the construction shown in Figure 2. In this construction, the teat is presstted in or bonded to the nipple body part.

In all the above described constructions the nozzle-engaging head of the teat is unsupported at Yits peripheral edge part against'V the thrust of the grease gun nozzle.

In the ninth to sixteenth constructions, shown in Figures 9 to 16, however, the nozzle-engaging head 23 of each teat is supported at its edges by means of an integral downturned peripheral ange or rim 24. The base of this flange or rim rests upon the top surface of the flange IG of the nipple body part and, as shown by the arrows in the figures, the pressure of the grease gun nozzle is applied to the head iiange at suhstantially half the radius of the ilange, i. e., at a point where it is unsupported.

'rom an inspection of the drawings it will .be seen that in other respects the teats shown in Figures 9 to 16 correspond to the teats shown in Figures l to 8 and that the nipple body parts shown in Figures 9 to 16 correspond respectively to those shown in Figures 1 to 8.

On other constructions the teat itself may form the complete nipple, which thereby becomes resilient, the metal or other rigid body part then being eliminated. Thus, in the seventeenth to twenty fourth constructions which are shown in Figures 17 to 24, the resilient nipples 25 (i. e., the combined teat and nipple body) are constructed respectively substantially like the teats of the rst to sixth constructions shown in Figures l to 6, except that on each nipple there is a supporting annular flange 25 spaced axially from the head 2l. The resilient nipples are Aitted in holes formed in the bearings or other parts to be lubricated, these holes being either threaded as shown at 56 in Figures 23 and 24, or counterbored as shown at 28 in Figures 17 to 20, or plain cylindrical as shown at 29 in Figures 2l and 22. The base of the annular flange 25 of each resilient nipple is seated upon the outer surface El of the bearing or other part to be lubricated.

In the twenty fth to thirty-second constructions Which are shown in Figures 25 to 32, the teats themselves again form the resilient nipples but they do not comprise annular flanges 2S and their heads are constructed like those of the'teats of the constructions shown in Figures 9 to 16 having their outer edges supported by annular ilanges 29 seated upon the top surfaces 39 of the bearings or other parts to be lubricated similar to those in Figures 9 to 16. The method of mounting the nipples in holes in the bearings. or other parts to berlubricated, are the same as the methods used in the constructions shown in Figures 17 to 24.

In the modication shown in Figure 23, the tea-t, which forms a resilient nipple, comprises a-circular nozzle-engaging head 3! and a cylindrical shank 32 which is of less diameter than the head and is inserted in a cylindrical hole 33 in the bearing 34 or other part to be lubricated. The headisseparated from the shank 32 by a waist part 35 and the shoulder 35 between the latter and the shank acts to limit the extent to which the shank can be inserted intothe hole 33. Vlhen the nipple is in its working position an annular space 3i is left between the top surface of the bearing or other parts to be lubricated and the under surface of the head part 3l. The resilient nipple is also Iformed with an axial lubricant hole 38 of no measurable diameter which is normally closed. The head 3| is also formed with an upstanding, annular rim 39 surrounding the flat outer surface lil' of the nipple.

Each of the above constructions has been described as having a central lubricant passage in the form of a hole of no measurable diameter but it will be appreciated that this passage may also take the form of a linear slit as shown in Figure 34 or it may be star-shaped havingr three or more radial arms, as shown in Figures 35 and 36. In all cases, however, the slits'are knife-V cut (not sawn) and thus have no measurable width.

Any type of nozzle may be used in association with the nipples provided by this invention as long as it comprises means for applying the requisite thrust to the outer surface of the nozzleengaging head of the teat required to spread outer end of the normally closed lubricant passage, and a nozzle or injector device having la pointed end adapted to enter the opened 'end ci the said passage.

Figures 3'1" and 38 each show a nozzle suitable for use with any of the nipples shown in Figures l to 32, each nozzle, however, being shown in its working position upona nipple constructed as shown in Figure l.

The nozzle shown in Figure 37 is similar to that in. Figure S of my co-pending application No. 744,361, filed on April 14, 1947. Thus, the nozzle comprises an injector member' M formed with a pointed end d2 which is adapted to enter the end or the lubricant passage 9 in the closure member or teat when the end is spread in the manner described below. A tubular sleeve i3 which is formed with a cup-shaped extension #lll having a depending rim part @5, is slidably arranged upon a machined cylindrical part 45 oi the injector member and is constantly pressed downwards by a coil spring fil. When, as shown in the figure, the nozzle is arranged in its working position on the nipple, the rim l5 nts over the ange l of the nipple body and thus acts to ensure that the pointed end i2 or the injector member is axially aligned with the passage 3 in the closure member or teat.v

When manual pressure is applied to the grease gun (not shown) the lower end 43A of the sleeve 43 nrst thrusts downwards upon the head 5 deilecting it downwards as shown in dotted lines and thus causing the upper end of the passage 9 to spread and open. Continued manual pressure upon the grease gun causes the injector member to slide downwards relative to the sleeve and the pointed end i2 to enter the opened end of the passage 9 and grease to be injected into the latter under pressure.

The modified nozzle shown in Figure 38 again comprises a hollow injector member 48 having a pointed end '39, a guide shank Eil which is slidably guided in the bore of the tubular part i of the nozzle and a piston part 53a, slidably guided in a. tubular sleeve 52 which is screwed upon the threaded end of the tubular part 5l and is integral with a channelled lower part formed with an inner rim 53 and an outer and longer rim 55. A coil spring 55 tted within the sleeve 52 acts to thrust the injector member 48 upwardly. The shank 53 is formed with a number of ports 53 which provide communication between the interior of the injector member and the annular space 51 formed between the shank and the sleeve 52 above the lpiston 50a.

When the nozzle is arranged in its working position upon the nipple as shown in Figure 38, the rim 54 fits around the flange l of the nipple body part and thus serves to ensure that the pointed end 43 is axially aligned with the passage 9. When the grease gun (not shown) is thrust towards the nipple, the rim 53 exerts vertical pressure upon the head 6 of the closure member or teat deilecting it downwards and outwards as shown by the dotted lines thus spreading the material and opening the upper end of the passage 9. When the grease gun is operated to put the grease under pressure grease flows through the ports 56 into the annular space 51 where, acting upon the piston 53a, it forces the latter downwards and thrusts the pointed end 49 of the injector member into the opened end of the passage E against the thrust of the spring 55, grease then being injected from the injector member into the said passage.

Figure 39 shows a nozzle of the same type as that shown in Figure 37 applied to a nipple having a. head supported at the edges as shown in Figures 9 to 16 and 25 to 32. It will be seen that in this case the lower end 43a of the tubular member 63 engages the head of the nipple at a point about halfway between the centre of the rim, that is, at a point where it is unsupported. W hen the vertical thrust is applied as previously described, the head is deflected downwards as shown by the dotted lines thus stretching the material radially and opening the upper end of the passage.

It will be appreciated that a nozzle as shown in Figure 38 will similarly operate in conjunction with a nipple of this type.

A spreading device adapted to be ltted to a nozzle suitable for use with the nipple shown in Figure 33 is shown in that gure. The end of the nozzle (not shown) is tted with a small conical, star-shaped flexible spreader having radial arms 58, the tips of which lit in the junction of the inner surface of the rim 33 and the nat surface 39. Thus, when pressure is applied by the grease gun nozzle to the spreader in the direction shown by the arrow, the arms 50 spread apart, stretching the rim 39 and thus pulling the mouth of the lubricant passage 33 open as indicated by the broken lines 5E).

1t will be appreciated that any of the closure members or teats shown in Figures l to 8 and 1'7 to 24 may be constructed for use with nozzles having spreading devices like that shown in Figure 33 by providing the closure member or teat with a peripheral rim like the rim 39 in Figure 33.

I claim:

l. A closure member for closing a lubricant receiving passageway comprising a unitary body member of circular cross section throughout its length formed from resilient iluid impervious deformable material and having an opening extending axially from end to end thereof at least the outer portion of which is a pierced opening which is closed in the relaxed condition of the closure member, said body member having an annular flange on one end of appreciably larger diameter than the outer end of said passageway and relatively thin in axial dimensions, and a supporting shank integral therewith and axially disposed relative thereto extending from one side of the flange, said shank conforming in shape at least along its end remote from the flange, substantialiy to the shape oi the outer end portion of the passageway to adapt the said end of the shanfto be snugly received therein for anchoring the closure member with said ilange wholly outside the outer end of said passageway and at least a portion of the flange which extends radially outwardly of said shank held free of subjacent support radially of the outer end of the passageway so that the said flange will be deformed to cause the pierced opening to be enm lerged radially upon the application oi pressure on said iiange in the direction or" the shank and radially outwardly or" the opening.

2. A closure member for closing a lubricant receiving passageway comp-rising a unitary body member of resilient fluid impervious deformable material having an opening extending axially from end to end thereof at least the outer portion of which is a pierced opening which is closed in the relaxed condition of the closure member, said body member including a disc-like outer end part of appreciably larger diameter than the outer end of said passageway and relatively thin in axial dimensions and an inner end part of smaller diameter integral therewith and extending axially therefrom, said inner end part conforming in shape at least along its end remote from the outer end part substantially to the shape of the outer end portion of the passageway to adapt the said end of the closure member to be snugly received therein for anchoring the closure member in axially disposed relation relative to the passageway and with the said outer end part wholly outside the outer end of said passageway and at least a portion of the under side of the said outei end part held in axially spaced relation to the structure in which said passageway is formed so that the said outer end part will be deformed to cause the pierced opening to be enlarged radially upon the application of pressure on said outer end part in the direction of the inner end part and radially outwardly of the opening.

3; A closure member for closing a lubricant receiving passageway comprising a unitary body member of resilient iiuid impervious deformable material having an opening extending axially' from end to end thereof at least the outer portion of which is a pierced opening which is closed in the relaxed condition of the closure member, said body member including a dise-shaped outer end part oi appreciably larger diameter than the outer end of said passageway and relatively thin in axial dimensions, and a second part integral with said outer end part and extending axially therefrom forming at least one shoulder on said body member to engage the outer side of the structure in which said passageway is formed and i-nciuding a portion conforming in shape to the outer end portion or" the passageway snugly receivable tl ""ein for anchoring the closure member disposed relation relative thereto with said outer end part wholly outside the outer end of said passageway at least a portion of said outer end part which extends radially outwardly of the second part of the clo sure member spaced axially outwardly of the structure in which said passageway is formed.

e. A closure member for closing a lubricant receiving passageway comprising a unitary body member oi resilient fluid impervious deformable material having an opening extending axially from end to end thereof at least the outer portion of which is a pierced opening which is closed in the relaxed condition of the closure member, said body member including a disc-like rst end part of appreciably larger diameter than the outer end of said passageway and relatively thin in axial dimensions, an intermediate part of smaller diameter integral at one end with the rst end part and extending axially therefrom and a second end part adjacent the other end of said intermediate part and integral therewith providing a shoulder adapted to engage a con plementary shoulder in the passageway for anchoring the closure member therein with said iirst end part supported wholly outside of the outer end of said passageway and with at least a portion of said first end part which is disposed radially outwardly of the intermediate part spaced axially outwardi7 of the confronting face of the structure in which said passageway is formed.

5. A closure member for closing a lubricant receiving passageway comprising a unitary body member oi resilient fluid impervious deformable material having an opening extending axially from end to end thereof at least the outer portion of which is a pierced opening which is closed in the relaxed condition of the closure member, said body member including a disc-like first end part of appreciably larger diameter than the outer end of said passageway and relatively thin in axial dimensions, an intermediate part of smaller diameter integral at one end with the first end part and extending axially therefrom and a second end part integral with the other end of said intermediate part providing a projecting shoulder adapted to engage a complementary shoulder in the passageway for anchoring the closure member in axially disposed relation relative thereto, said intermediate part being of suiicient length to support said first end part wholly outside of the outer end of said passageway with the under side thereof spaced axially outwardly of the plane of the outer end of said passageway.

6. A closure member for closing a lubricant receiving passageway comprising a unitary body member of resilient iluid impervious deformable material having an opening extending axially from endv to end thereof at least the outer portion of which is a pierced opening which is closed in the relaxed condition of the closure member, said body member including a disc-shaped iirst end part of a diameter appreoiably larger than the diameter of the outer end of said passageway, an intermediate part of a diameter intermediate the diameter of said passageway and said rst end part integral at one end with the latter and extending axially therefrom, and a second end part integral with the opposite end of said intermediate part and conforming in shape substantially to the shape of the outer end of said passageway so as to be snugly receivable therein for anchoring said closure member in axially disposed relation with the passageway, the juncture of said intermediate part and second end part providing a shoulder overlappingly to engage the outer side of the structure in which said passageway is formed for limiting movement of the closure member inwardly of the passageway so that the iirst end part is supported spaced axially outwardly of the outer end of said passageway the length of said intermediate part.

7. A closure member for closing a lubricant receiving passageway comprising a unitary body member of resilient iluid impervious deformable l l material having ^an opening extending axially Yfrom end to end thereof at least the outer portion of which is a pierced opening which is closed in the relaxed condition of the closure member, said closure member including a pair of disc shaped flanges both of appreciably larger diameter than the outer end of said passageway axially spaced from each other by an integral part of reduced diameter, one of said flanges forming an outer end part on the closure member and the other flange forming an intermediate stop member, and an inner end part integral with the side of said stop member opposite said cuter end part and extending axially therefrom, said inner end part conforming in external contour to the contour of the outer end part of said passageway so as to be receivable therein for anchoring the closure member therein in axially disposed relation thereto with said stop member overlappingly engaged against the outer end of said passageway to limit movement of said clcsure member inwardly of the passageway.

3. A closure member for closing a lubricant receiving passageway comprising a unitary body member of resilient :duid impervious deformable material having an opening extending axiall from end to end thereof at least the outer portion of which is a pierced opening which is closed in the relaxed condition of the closure member, said body member including a pair of disc-shaped flanges both of appreciably larger diameter' than the outer end of said passageway axially spaced from each other by an integral part of reduced diameter, one of said flanges forming an outer end part on the closure member and the other flange forming an intermediate stop member, and an inner end part integral with the side of said stop member opposite said outer end part and extending axially therefrom, said inner end part having a portion adjacent said stop member of substantially the same diameter as the outer end of said passageway and a shoulder adjacent its end remote from the stop member to engage a complementary shoulder in said passageway for anchoring the closure member against movement outwardly of the passageway with said stop member overlappingly engaged against the outer end of said passageway to limit movement of said closure member inwardly of the passageway.

9. A plug type closure member for closing a lubricant receiving passageway comprising a unitary body member of circular cross section throughout its length formed from resilient fluid impervious deformable material and having opening extending axially from end to end thereof at least the outer portion of which is a pierced opening which is closed in the relaxed condition of the closure member, said body member in cluding a disc-like outer end part of appreciably larger diameter than the outer end of pas sageway and relatively thin in axial dimensions, a supporting shank of smaller diameter integral therewith and extending axially therefrom, and a peripheral skirt integral with the outer end part and extending therefrom in the same direction as said shank, said shank being conformed in shape at least along its end remote lfrom the outer end part to cooperate with the cuter end portion of the passageway for anchoring the closure member with its outer end part wholly outside the outer end of said passageway spaced axially a su'icient distance outwardly from the structure in which said passageway is formed to bring said skirt into light contacting engagen ment with the outer side of the said structure when said closure member is in relaxed condition so that said outer end part will be deformed to cause the pierced opening to be enlarged radially upon the application of pressure on the said outer end in the direction of the shank between the juncture of the shank and outer end parts and said skirt.

lil. A closure member for closing a lubricant receiving passageway comprising a unitary body member of resilient fluid impervious deformable material having an opening extending axially from end to end thereof at least the outer Vportion of which is a pierced opening which is closed in relaxed condition of the closure member, said body member including a disc-shaped outer end part of appreciably larger diameter than the outer end of said passageway, a second part integral with said outer end part and extending axially therefrom forming at least one shoulder on said body member to engage the outer side of the structure in which said passageway is formed and including a portion conforming in shape to the outer end portion of the passageway and snugly receivable therein for anchoring the closure member inaxially disposed relation relative thereto with said outer end part wholly outside the outer end of said passageway and at least a portion of said outer end part which extends radially outwardly of thesecond part of the closure member spaced axially outwardly of the structure yin which said passageway is formed, and a peripheral skirt integral with said outerY end part and extending axially therefrom in the same direction as said second part, said skirt being of suiicient length to rest upon the outer side of the structure in which said passageway is formed when said closure member is in anchored position.

ll. A closure member for closing a lubricant receiving passageway comprising a unitary body member of resilient fluid impervious deformable material having an opening extending axially from end to end thereof at least the outer portion of which is a pierced opening which is closed 'in the relaxed condition of the closure member, said body member including a disc-like irst end part of appreciably larger diameter than the outer end of said passageway, an intermediate part of smaller diameter integral at one end with the rst end part and extending axially therefrom, a second end part adjacent the other end of said intermediate part and integral therewith providing a shoulder adapted to engage a complementary shoulder in the passageway for anchoring the closure member therein with said rst end part supported wholly outside of the outer end of said passageway and with at least a portion of said first end part which is disposed radially outwardly of the intermediate part spaced axially outwardly of the confronting face of the structure in which said passageway is formed, and a peripheral skirt integral with said rst end part and extending axially therefrom in the same direction as said intermediate part, said skirt being of suicient iength to rest upon the outer side of the structure in which said passageway is formed when said closure member is in anchored position.

A closure member for closing a lubricant receiving passageway comprising a unitary body member of resilient fluid impervious deformable material having an opening extending axially from end to end thereof at least the outer portion of w ich is a pierced opening which is closed in the relaxed condition of the closure member, said body member including a disc-shaped rst end 13 part of a diameter appreciably larger than the diameter of the outer end of said passageway, an intermediate part of a diameter intermediate the diameter of said passageway and said first lend part integral at one end with the latter and extending axially therefrom, a second end part inf tegral with the opposite end of said intermediate part and conforming in shape substantially to the shape of the outer end of said passageway so as to be snugly receivable therein for anchoring said closure member in axially disposed relation with the passageway, the juncture of said intermediate part and second end part providing a shoulder to'engage the outer side oi the structure in which said passageway is formed surrounding the latter to limit movement of the closure member inwardly of the VY'passageway so that the rst end part is supported spaced axially outwardly of .the outer end of said passageway the length of said intermediate part, and a peripheral skirt integral with said rst end part and extending axially therefrom in the same direction as said intermediate part, said skirt being of sufficient length to rest upon the outer side of the structure in which said passageway is formed when said closure member is in anchored position.

13. A plug type closure member for closing a lubricant receiving passageway comprising a unitary body member of circular cross section throughout its length formed from resilient fluid impervious deformable material and having an opening extending axially from end to end thereof at least the outer portion of which is a pierced opening which is closed in the relaxed condition of the closure member, said body member having an annular flange on one end of appreciably larger diameter than the outer end of said passageway and relatively thin in axial dimensions, a supporting shank integral therewith and axially disposed relative to the flange extending from one side thereof, said shank conforming in shape at l-east along its end remote from the flange substantially to the shape of the outer end p0rtion of the passageway to adapt the said end of the shank to be snugly received therein for anchoring the closure member with the said ange wholly outside the outer end of said passageway and at least a portion of the underside of the said flange held in axially spaced relation to the structure in which said passageway is formed so that the said flange will be deformed to cause the pierced opening to be enlarged radially upon the application of pressure on said flange in the direction of the shank and radially outwardly of the opening. and a peripheral rim integral with said iiange extending axially outwardly from the outer side thereof in a direction opposite from the direction of extension of the shank.

i4. A. closure member for closing a lubricant receiving passageway comprising a unitary body member of resilient iiuid impervious deformable material having an opening extending axially from end to end thereof at least the outer portion of which is a pierced opening which is closed in the relaxed condition of the closure member, said body member including a disc-shaped first end part oi a diameter appreciably larger than the diameter of the outer end of said passageway, an intermediate part of a diameter intermediate the diameter of said passageway and said first end part integral at one end with the latter and extending axially therefrom, a supporting shank integral with the opposite end oi said intermediate part and conforming in shape substantially to the shape of the outer end of said passageway' so to be snugly receivable therein for anchoring said closure member in axially disposed relation with the passageway, the juncture of said intermediate part and shank providing a shoulder"overlappingly to engage the cuter side of the structure in which said passageway is formed for limiting movement of the closure member inwardly reatire to the passageway s o that the first end part is supported spaced axially outwardly of the outer end of said paessii-gewag,7` the length of said intermediate part, and a peripheral flange integral with said rst end part extending axially outwardly from the outer side thereof in a direction opposite from the direction oi extension of the intermediate part.

15. A closure member forY closing a lubricant receiving passageway comprising a unitary body member of resilient fluid impervious deformable material having an opening extending axialy from end to end thereof at least the outer portion of which is a pierced opening which is Closed in the relaxed condition of the closure member, said body member including a disc-shaped outer end part oi appreciably larger diameter than the outer end of said passageway, a second part integral with said outer end part and extending axially therefrom forming at least one shoulder on said body member to engage the outer side of the structure in which said passageway is formed and including a portion conforming in shape to the outer end portion of the passageway and snugly receivable therein for anchoring the closure member in axia`ly disposed relation relative thereto with said outer end part wholly outside the outer end of said passageway and at least a portion of said outer end part which extends radially outwardly of the second part of the closure member spaced axially outwardly of the structure in which said passageway is formed, and a peripheral flange integral with said outer end part extending axially outwardly from the outer side thereof in a direction opposite from the direction oi extension of the second part.

16. A closure member for closing a lubricant receiving passageway comprising a unitary body member of resilient fluid impervious deformable material having an opening extending axially from end to end thereof at least the outer portion of which is a pierced opening which is closed in the relaxed condition of the closure member, said body member including a pair of disc-shaped flanges both of appreciably larger diameter than the outer end of said passageway axially spaced from each other by an integral part of reduced diameter, one of said flanges forming an outer end part on the closure member and the other ange forming an intermediate stop member, a supporting shank integral with the side of said stop member opposite said outer end part and extending axially therefrom, said shank having a portion adjacent said stop member of substantially the same diameter as the outer end of said passageway and a shoulder adjacent its end remote from the stop member to engage a complementary shoulder in said passageway for anchoring the closure member against movement outwardly of the passageway with said stop flange overlappingly engaged against the structure in which said passageway is formed for limiting movement of said closure member inwardly of the passageway, and a peripheral ange integral with said outer end part extending axially outwardly from the side thereof opposite said stop member.

17. A closure member for closing a lubricant receiving passageway comprising `a unitary body member of resilient uid impervious deformable material having yan opening extending axially from end to end thereof at least the outer portion of which is a pierced opening which is closed in the relaxed condition of the closure member, said body member including a disc-like first end part of appreciably larger diameter than the outer end of said passageway, an intermediate part integral at one end with the irst end part and extending axially therefrom, at least a portion of which is of smaller diameter than said outer end part, and a shank integral with the other end of said intermediate part of smaller diameter than said intermediate part and conforming substantially to the diameter of the outer end of said passageway to adapt said shank to be received in said passageway and providing an annular shoulder spaced from the said outer end part, said shank having peripheral threads to` engage complementary threads in the outer end of said passageway for anchoring said closure member with said shoulder overlapping the outer edges of said passageway so that said outer end part is supported Wholly outside said passageway with at least portions thereof spaced axially outwardly of the end of the passageway.

CAMILLE CLARE SPRANKLING LE CLAIR.

CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 120,693 Wood Nov. 7, 1871 660,894 Ernst Oct. 30, 190) 2,234,238 Forsberg Mar. 11, 1941 

